Extrusion press and counterplaten therefor

ABSTRACT

A counterplaten for a horizontal extrusion press with a tool slide sliding horizontally on the counterplaten in a horizontal guideway, the toolslide having an aperture for receiving the die (and normally a dieholder and a bolster) with at least part of the bottom of the aperture closed by a member which in the working position of the toolslide is held closed by the guideway but in the rest position of the toolslide can be opened to release the die.

United States Patent [72] Inventor Helmut Robra [56] References CitedMuelhei' (Ruhrb Germany UNITED STATES PATENTS P 7891502 2,858,01710/1958 Kent 72/255 [22] Med 3 116' 833 1/1964 v0 el 72/263 45 1Patented June a, 1971 g [73] Assignee Schloemann AktiengesellschaftFOREIGN PATENTS Dusseldorf, Germany 1,020,951 12/1957 Germany 72/263[32] Priority Jan. 10, 1968 1,105,366 12/1965 Great Britain 72/255 [33]Germany Primary Examiner-Richard J. Herbst [3 n P 16 52 601's AssistantExaminer-A. L1 Havis Attorney-Holman & Stem ABSTRACT: A counterplatenfor a horizontal extrusion press [54] EXTRUSION PRESS AND COUNTERPLATENwith a tool slide sliding horizontally on the counterplaten in aTHEREFOR horizontal guideway, the toolslide having an aperture for 13Claims 3 Draw'ng receiving the die (and normally a dieholder and abolster) with [52] US. Cl 72/255, at least part of the bottom of theaperture closed by a member- 7 2/263 which in the working position ofthe toolslide is held closed by [51] Int. Cl B21c 23/00 the guideway butin the rest position of the toolslide can be [50] Field of Search72/255, 263 opened to release the die.

PATENTEEJJUN Si n 3583.197

J INVENTOR.

HELMUT ROBRA QM? W EXTRUSEON PRESS AND COUNTERPLATEN THEREFOR Theinvention relates to a toolslide for a horizontal extrusion press usedprincipally for the production of metal (particularly aluminum) tubes,the press having a horizontal guide located on the counterplatentransversely to the axis of the press and an aperture which is outwardlyopen and located on the longitudinal axis of the toolslide, forreceiving the dieholder, die and bolster. The term counterplaten" isused generally herein to designate the part of the press which takes upthe extrusion force applied to the die, the counterplaten normallytaking up the extrusion force by way of various intermediate memberssuch as the dieholder and bolster.

Conventional toolslides on horizontal tube extension presses haveapertures or recesses which serve to receive the dieholder and bolsterand which extend vertically or at an angle in an upward direction.Although this arrangement enables the shearing pressure produced whenthe extruded product is cut using a downwardly moving shear to beabsorbed by the counterplaten through the toolslide and slideway, thedieholder can only be changed in an upward direction and usually only byusing a jack or other ejection system.

lt also often occurs that because of the parts being smeared with flashduring shearing, particularly in the case of aluminum alloys, frictionbetween the shear blade and the front edge of the die causes the die tobe drawn upwards as the shear blade is withdrawn. In order to avoidthis, it is necessary to provide extra, releasable retaining clips onthe apertures in the toolslide.

It is only possible to simplify the tool replacement system by allowingthe tools to roll out in presses in which apertures are arranged so asto extend downwards at an angle in the toolslide, the slide being movedto one side out of the axis of the press and the tool clamps released. Anew tool is inserted by means of a pusher ram in such presses with adownwardly inclined aperture from a slidable table. The advantage ofrapid tool replacement is, however, offset by the disadvantage that thevertical downward shearing forces are not absorbed by the downwardlyinclined tool aperture and are not transmitted through the slideway tothe counterplaten.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provideda horizontal extrusion press counterplaten having a horizontal guidewaylocated thereon and extending transversely to the press axis,

a toolslide guided by the guideway and movable between a workingposition and a rest position,

the toolslide having an aperture which is located on the press axis whenthe toolslide is in its working position, the aperture being forreceiving an extrusion die (and normally a dieholder for the die and abolster behind the die), at least part of the bottom of the aperturebeing openable to allow the die to leave the aperture, and

a member having its top portion profiled to close the bottom of saidaperture and retain the die in position (normally by retaining thedieholder in position), the member being movable with respect to thetoolslide to release the die from the toolslide when the toolslide is inthe rest position, the member also being profiled to be guided by theguideway and move with the toolslide into the working position of thetoolslide so that the member is held closed by the guideway when thetoolslide is in the working position.

According to a second aspect of this invention, there is provided ahorizontal extrusion press having a counterplaten according to the firstaspect of the invention.

Using the invention, it is possible to replace the die (normally withthe dieholder and bolster) quickly and easily without the need for ajack or other ejection system to eject the die, dieholder and bolster,in that the die, dieholder and bolster can leave the aperture in adirection having at least a downwards component of movement.

As the retaining member is held closed by the guideway when the toolslide is in the working position, both an upward and a downward shearingforce can be absorbed by the guideway, as well as shearing forces atother angles.

The retaining member is preferably pivoted to the toolslide, andpreferably again the retaining member and the toolslide act like a pairoftongs to retain the die in position.

In order to enable the retaining member to be pivoted downwards when thetoolslide is in the rest position whilst employing a simple pivotingmovement, the pivot axis of the retaining member may be at or beyond theend of the guideway when the toolslide is in its rest position.

Preferably, the bottom of the retaining member is in alignment with thebottom of the toolslide; this enables the retaining member to slidealong the same guide surfaces in the guideway as the toolslide.

A pivoted table may be provided for engaging the retaining member whenthe toolslide is in its rest position and for controlling the movementof the retaining member; the pivoted table is preferably arranged suchthat its pivot axis is at the rest end of the guideway. Power means suchas a hydraulic piston and cylinder arrangement articulated to thepivoted table, may be provided for moving the pivoted table to move theretaining member into its closed position. In this manner, the retainingmember can abut the pivoted table when the toolslide is in the restposition, and the retaining member can be lowered to such an extent thatthe downwardly inclined opening which is now formed leading out of theaperture releases the die (and dieholder and bolster if present) whichis able to roll on to a, say, conventional die replacement table, thedie replacement table preferably having an angle of inclination the sameas that of the downwardly inclined retaining member.

If, as would be normal, the aperture in the toolslide is arranged toreceive a die and a bolster, two retaining members may be provided, onefor the bolster and one for the die, and likewise two pivoted tables maybe provided, one for each retaining member. In this manner, for example,when the toolslide is moved sideways out of its working position, thebolster may be held in position by holding the respective retainingmember closed whilst the die (normally with the dieholder), which has tobe replaced much more often, can be allowed to roll out of the toolslideaperture by opening the respective retaining member, enabling a new die(and dieholder) to be inserted into the aperture using a die exchangesystem. The die or dieholder may be secured in the aperture by means ofasecuring pin, and the respective retaining plate can be closed and thetoolslide again moved into the working position, thus completing thereplacement of the die.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example,with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which FIG. 1 is a view ofa slide which is able to slide transversely to the axis of a horizontalextension press on a slideway, the die being secured in a workingposition;

HO. 2 is a section along the line ll-ll in P10. 1; and

FlG. 3 is a view of the toolslide in its rest position, a dieretainingmember being pivoted downwards and held in position by a pivoted table.

A horizontal slideway 3 for the toolslide is secured to thecounterplaten l of a horizontal metal section extrusion press, thecounterplaten 1 being connected, through columns 2, with a presscylinder not shown in the drawing; the slideway 3 is secured to the sideof the counterplaten facing the press cylinder. On this slideway theremoves a toolslide 4 which encloses at its end, in a downwardly extendingaperture 5, a dieholder 6 with die 7 and a bolster (pressure plate) 19.At the other end of the slide 4, in order to achieve a thrust, there isarranged the piston rod 8 of a hydraulic piston, Part of the lowerenclosing portion is provided by a retaining member in the form of apivoted plate 9 which is able to rotate about the pin 10. On theleft-hand side of the lower slideway 3, a pivotal table 13 is pivoted toa plate 11 on the slideway 3 by means of a bolt 12; the table 13 may beraised and lowered by means of a piston rod 15 whose piston is pivotedthereto by means of a pin l4, and a fixed articulated cylinder 16. A diereplacement system 17 is provided in addition to the pivotal table 13and is fixed in position. Over the inclined track 18 of this system, thedieholder 6 or the bolster 19 is able to roll towards a catch member 22which is moved in the direction of the aperture in the toolslide 4 by apiston rod 20 and cylinder 21. A shear 23 which acts verticallydownwards at right angles to the axis of the press is located above theslideway 3 and is secured to the counterplaten l.

I claim:

1. A horizontal extrusion press counterplaten having a horizontalguideway located thereon and extending transversely to the press axis,

a toolslide guided by the guideway and movable between a workingposition and a rest position,

the toolslide having an aperture which is located on the press axis whenthe toolslide is in its working position, the aperture being forreceiving an extrusion die, at least part of the bottom of the aperturebeing openable to allow the die to leave the aperture, and a memberhaving its top portion profiled to close the bottom of said aperture andretain the die in position, the member being movable with respect to thetoolslide to release the die from the toolslide when the toolslide is inthe rest position, the member having its bottom in alignment with thebottom of the toolslide when the toolslide is in its working positionand the member being profiled to be guided by the guideway and move withthe toolslide into the working position of the toolslide so that themember is held closed by the guideway when the toolslide is in theworking position.

2. A counterplaten as claimed in claim 1, wherein the retaining memberis pivoted to the toolslide.

3. A counterplaten as claimed in claim 2, wherein the retaining memberand the toolslide act like a pair of tongs to retain the die inposition.

4. A counterplaten as claimed in claim 2, wherein the pivot axis of theretaining member is beyond the end of the guideway when the toolslide isin its rest position.

5. A counterplaten as claimed in claim ll, wherein a pivoted table isprovided for engaging the retaining member when the toolslide is in itsrest position,

6. A counterplaten as claimed in claim 5, wherein the pivot axis of thepivoted table is at the rest end of the guideway.

7. A counterplaten as claimed in claim 5, wherein power means areprovided for moving the pivoted table to move the retaining member intoits closed position.

8. A counterplaten as claimed in claim 1, wherein the aperture isarranged to receive a die and a bolster and two said retaining membersare provided, one retaining member for the bolster and one retainingmember for the die.

9. A counterplaten as claimed in claim 8, wherein two pivoted tables areprovided, for engaging the respective retaining members when thetoolslide is in its rest position.

10. A horizontal extrusion press having a mount, an extrusion cylinderand a counterplaten as claimed in claim 1.

11. An extrusion press counterplaten having a guideway located thereonand extending transversely to the press axis, a toolslide having twosides guided by the guideway and movable between a working position anda rest position, the toolslide having an aperture which is located onthe press axis when the toolslide is in its working position, theaperture being for receiving an extrusion die, at least part of theaperture'being openable to allow the die to leave the aperture, and amember having two sides, one side being profiled to close at least partof said aperture and retain the die in position, the member beingmovable with respect to the toolslide to release the die from thetoolslide when the toolslide is in the rest position, the other of saidsides of the member being in alignment with the respective side of thetoolslide when the toolslide is in its working position, and the memberbeing profiled to be guided by the guideway and move with the toolslideinto the working position of the toolslide so that the member is heldclosed by the guideway when the toolslide is in the working position.

12. An extrusion press counterplaten having a guideway located thereonand extending transversely to the press axis,

a toolslide having two sides guided by the guideway and movable betweena working position and a rest position, the toolslide having an aperturewhich is located on the press axis when the toolslide is in its workingposition, the aperture being for receiving an extrusion die, at leastpart of the aperture being openable to allow the die to leave theaperture,

a member having two sides, one side being profiled to close at leastpart of said aperture and retain the die in position, the member beingmovable with respect to the toolslide to release the die from thetoolslide when the toolslide is in the rest position, the other of saidsides of the member being in alignment with the respective side of thetoolslide when the toolslide is in its working position, and the memberbeing profiled to be guided by the guideway and move with the toolslideinto the working position of the toolslide so that the member is heldclosed by the guideway when the toolslide is in the working position,and

a pivoted table for engaging said member when the toolslide is in itsrest position.

13. A counterplaten as claimed in claim 12, wherein said member ispivoted to the toolslide.

1. A horizontal extrusion press counterplaten having a horizontalguideway located thereon and extending transversely to the press axis, atoolslide guided by the guideway and movable between a working positionand a rest position, the toolslide having an aperture which is locatedon the press axis when the toolslide is in its working position, theaperture being for receiving an extrusion die, at least part of thebottom of the aperture being openable to allow the die to leave theaperture, and a member having its top portion profiled to close thebottom of said aperture and retain the die in position, the member beingmovable with respect to the toolslide to release the die from thetoolslide when the toolslide is in the rest position, the member havingits bottom in alignment with the bottom of the toolslide when thetoolslide is in its working position and the member being profiled to beguided by the guideway and move with the toolslide into the workingposition of the toolslide so that the member is held closed by theguideway when the toolslide is in the working position.
 2. Acounterplaten as claimed in claim 1, wherein the retaining member ispivoted to the toolslide.
 3. A counterplaten as claimed in claim 2,wherein the retaining member and the toolslide act like a pair of tongsto retain the die in position.
 4. A counterplaten as claimed in claim 2,wherein the pivot axis of the retaining member is beyond the end of theguideway when the toolslide is in its rest position.
 5. A counterplatenas claimed in claim 1, wherein a pivoted table is provided for engagingthe retaining member when the toolslide is in its rest position.
 6. Acounterplaten as claimed in claim 5, wherein the pivot axis of thepivoted table is at the rest end of the guideway.
 7. A counterplaten asclaimed in claim 5, wherein power means are provided for moving thepivoted table to move the retaining member into its closed position. 8.A counterplaten as claimed in claim 1, wherein the aperture is arrangedto receive a die and a bolster and two said retaining members areprovided, one retaining member for the bolster and one retaining memberfor the die.
 9. A counterplaten as claimed in claim 8, wherein twopIvoted tables are provided, for engaging the respective retainingmembers when the toolslide is in its rest position.
 10. A horizontalextrusion press having a mount, an extrusion cylinder and acounterplaten as claimed in claim
 1. 11. An extrusion presscounterplaten having a guideway located thereon and extendingtransversely to the press axis, a toolslide having two sides guided bythe guideway and movable between a working position and a rest position,the toolslide having an aperture which is located on the press axis whenthe toolslide is in its working position, the aperture being forreceiving an extrusion die, at least part of the aperture being openableto allow the die to leave the aperture, and a member having two sides,one side being profiled to close at least part of said aperture andretain the die in position, the member being movable with respect to thetoolslide to release the die from the toolslide when the toolslide is inthe rest position, the other of said sides of the member being inalignment with the respective side of the toolslide when the toolslideis in its working position, and the member being profiled to be guidedby the guideway and move with the toolslide into the working position ofthe toolslide so that the member is held closed by the guideway when thetoolslide is in the working position.
 12. An extrusion presscounterplaten having a guideway located thereon and extendingtransversely to the press axis, a toolslide having two sides guided bythe guideway and movable between a working position and a rest position,the toolslide having an aperture which is located on the press axis whenthe toolslide is in its working position, the aperture being forreceiving an extrusion die, at least part of the aperture being openableto allow the die to leave the aperture, a member having two sides, oneside being profiled to close at least part of said aperture and retainthe die in position, the member being movable with respect to thetoolslide to release the die from the toolslide when the toolslide is inthe rest position, the other of said sides of the member being inalignment with the respective side of the toolslide when the toolslideis in its working position, and the member being profiled to be guidedby the guideway and move with the toolslide into the working position ofthe toolslide so that the member is held closed by the guideway when thetoolslide is in the working position, and a pivoted table for engagingsaid member when the toolslide is in its rest position.
 13. Acounterplaten as claimed in claim 12, wherein said member is pivoted tothe toolslide.